Method and apparatus for forming and/or augmenting an energy wave

ABSTRACT

A method in which an energy wave at a controlled frequency is superimposed on another energy wave transmitted through some medium to increase the energy level and heat the medium through which the energy waves are propagated. One of the energy waves is generated from an electrical current source connected to electrodes in contact with the wave transmitting medium.

United States Patent [191 Brandon METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FORMINGAND/OR AUGMENTING AN ENERGY WAVE Clarence W. Brandon, Tulsa, Okla.

Assignees: Orpha B. Brandon, Tulsa, Okla.;

Nat A. Hardin; Catherine H. Newton; Hazel H. Wright, Forsyth, Ga.;Harvey B. Jacob, part interest to each Inventor:

Notice: The portion of the term of this patent subsequent to March 31,1987, has been disclaimed.

Filed: March 17, 1970 Appl. No.: 20,167

Related US. Application Data [51] Int. Cl. ..E2lb 43/26 [56] ReferencesCited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,222,761 4/1917 Herrold ..313/232 X1,457,479 6/ 1923 Wolcott ..166/60 X 1,993,642 3/1935 Aarts et a1...175/l6 2,437,456 3/1948 Bodine ..166/308 X 2,559,227 7/1951 Rieber..313/232 X 2,669,689 2/1954 Doll ..324/10 X 2,732,525 l/1956 Blanchardet a1. ..324/l0 2,795,279 6/1957 Sarapuu ..166/57 X 3,116,449 12/1963Vogel ..1-66/177 X 3,180,418 4/1965 MacLeod ..l66/177 X PrimaryExaminer-David H. Brown [5 7] ABSTRACT A method in which an energy waveat a controlled frequency is superimposed on another energy wavetransmitted through some medium to increase the energy level and heatthe medium through which the energy waves are propagated. One of theenergy waves is generated from an electrical current source connected toelectrodes in contact with the wave transmitting medium.

US. Cl. ..l66/248, 166/249, 166/177,

166/307 50 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures PATENTEDFEBZYIQB I 3,718,186

SHEET 10F 2 Clarence W Brandon IN VENTOR.

BY 24.6mm

WWW

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FORMING AND/R AUGMENTING AN ENERGY WAVE Thisapplication is a division of my prior copending application Ser. No.728,852, filed May 13, 1968, now U.S. Pat. No. 3,503,446, which is acontinuation of application Ser. No. 511,957, filed Dec. 6, 1965, nowabandoned, the latter application being a continuationin-part of Ser.No. 389,233, filed July 6, 1964, now alandoned, which was in turn adivisional application of Ser. No. 833,122 filed Aug. 3, 1959, now U.S.Pat. No. 3,141,099, which was a continuation of Ser. No.. 431 ,3 88,filed May 21, 1954, now abandoned, which is a continuation-in-part ofSer. No. 241,647, filed Aug. 13, 1951, now U.S. Pat. No. 2,796,129, andSer. No. 296,038, filed June 27, 1952, now U.S. Pat. 2,866,509. Thesubject matter of this application also relates to the subject matter ofmy prior copending applications Ser. No. 431,246, now U.S. Pat. No.3,133,591, and Ser. No. 434,299, now U.S. Pat. No. 3,042,115.

This invention relates to methods and apparatuses for forming and/oraugmenting an energy wave and more specifically has reference toprocesses and means whereby electrical energy may be converted in animproved and advantageous manner into heat energy and may be thendirectly introduced into a fluid medium or into a pulsating energy wavein a fluid medium, or may be abstracted from such energy wave whereby tovary the characteristics of the wave and facilitate the treating offormations and especially oil bearing formations thereby.

It is axiomatic, as stated by generally recognized authorities in thestudy of the wave transmission of energy in a wave progagating medium,that heat applied to an energy carrying wave medium during thecompression phase of an energy carrying wave wave therein, or abstractedduring the rarefaction phase of such wave, will increase the energycontent of the wave by that amount; while the application of heat duringthe rarefaction phase or its subtraction during the compression phasewill decrease the wave energy content to that extent; and, also, if heatbe applied to the medium at the proper phase angle before and/or afterthe peak of the compression and/or rearefaction phases of the wave, thefrequency of the energy carrying wave may be altered correspondingly.The present invention is concerned with and based upon this fundamentalprinciple of wave mechanics and utilizes electrical energy in differentmanners for these purposes.

In its various aspects, therefore, the basic and fundamental purpose ofthis invention is to provide means and methods whereby electrical energymay be controllably converted into heat which, in turn, may e directlyintroduced into an energy carrying wave in order to augment or modifythe total energy content of the energy wave or to otherwise modify orcontrol its characteristics and, alternatively, to abstract heatormechanical ynergy from an energy carrying wave.

A corollary object is to apply the foregoing object and principle to therecovery of gases and oils from petroliferous formation.

Another important object employing the principles of this invention isto controllably vary the characteristics of an energy wave whereby tofracture and/or disintegrate a permeable formation.

A further important object of this invention is to provide processes andmeans whereby an energy carrying wave in a wave propagting medium may beinitiated solely by the conversion of electrical energy to heat and theapplication of the latter to the medium.

An additional important specific object of the invention is to provideprocesses and means whereby the dielectric properties of a formation maybe utilized for converting electrical energy into heat enerfy and fordirectly applying the latter to a formation or introducing the latter asenergy into an energy carrying wave for treating the formation.

An additional object of this invention is to provide apparatus andprocesses whereby the electrical energy may be continuously applied ormay instead be intermittently applied at controllable intervals to aformation for the generation of heat therein or for controlling theenergy content of an energy carrying wave applied by a fluid pressuremedium to the formation.

A still further important object of the invention is to provideapparatuses and processes in accordance with the preceding objects inwhich the variations in pressure of a fluid drive medium may be utilizedto control the generation and the character of electrical impulses andtheir resultant conversion into heat.

A still further object of this invention is to provide apparatuses andmethods as set forth in the preceding objects in which thecharacteristics of an energy carrying wave produced by a wave generatorin a wave progagating medium may be controlled by the adjustably timedapplication of electrically generated heat impulses into the medium atpredetermined phased relationships with respect to the energy waveproduced therein.

These and other objects and advantages will become subsequently apparentas more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had tothe accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numeralsrefer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a somewhat diagrammatic detail view in vertical sectionthrough a portion of an oil bearing or other formation and showing anovel manner for applying a heat introducing means thereto, the heatingmeans being adapted to apply dielectric heating or are beating in acontinuous or intermittent manner to the formation and being readilyinserted into or withdrawn from the formation through a well boretherein.

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1 but showing a modified constructionwherein the dielectric or arc heating effect is varied by and/or inaccordance with variations in pulsations applied to the fluid of aliquid drive for pressurizing an oil bearing formation to effect anapplication of heat in an intermittent or pulsating manner.

FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic view in vertical section of a portion of an oilbearing formation showing a still further modified form of apparatus forintroducing sensible heat into the formation and wherein a continuingintermittent application of heat impulses is effected by verticaloscillation of an impulse control timer and which may be varied as tointensity by intermittent greater pulsations of a fluid pressure mediumapplied to the oscillating timer and thence to the formation and which,by variation of the means pressure of the medium, will operatealternative electrodes to produce energy waves of differentcharacteristics. 7

FIG. 4 is a view of a modified construction similar to that of FIG. 3but wherein an electric motor or other power means is provided forrotating the heat impulse timing mechanism and wherein a solenoid isprovided for intermittently varying the characteristics of the heatimpulses.

FIG. 5 is a horizontal sectional detail view taken substantially uponthe plane indicated by the section line 55 of FIG. 4 and indicating amanner in which the phase angle of the heat impulses are correlated toprovide an augmented energy transmitting wave which may be initiatedand/or maintained by the heat-introducing device.

EMBODIMENT OF FIGURE 1 FIGS. 1 and 2 disclose embodiments in accordancewith this invention wherein there is provided a compact and portabledevice which may be very easily introduced into or removed from a wellbore in a geological formation as, for example, an oil bearing or gasbearing formation. Referring first to FIG. 1, it will be seen that thegeological formation indicated generally by the numeral is provided witha well bore 12 therein which thus gives access to the interior of theformation constituting an unconfined energy transmitting medium to betreated in accordance with this invention.

In this form of the invention, the heat exchanger indicated generally bythe numeral 14 is formed of a tough, deformable and yieldably expansiblematerial of any desired character. The heat exchanger may convenientlycomprise a body 16 whose interior is closed as by top and bottom walls18 and 20, respectively. Carried by the body 16 are upper and lowerelectrodes 22 and 24 having their terminal portions exposed through thesides of the body. Any desired number of these electrodes may beprovided as deemed to be expedient. Alternatively, the electrodes couldconsist of arcuate rings embedded in the exerior portion of thecylindrical body and having portions of their outer faces flush with theexerior of the body. In any event, it is the purpose of this form of theinvention to provide a plurality, two or more, of spaced electrodescarried by the body which itself is of an insulating or dielectricmaterial. Suitable electrical conductors 26 and 28 are connected withthe electrodes 22, 24, exkending through a suitable protective sheath orhousing, not shown, are in communication with a source of electriccurrent.

In this form of the invention it is contemplated that the heater 14 maybe lowered by a cable or in any other desired manner to an appropriateposition in the well bore 12 and adjacent that portion ofa formationwhich is to be treated in accordance with this invention. At that oointthe expansible cylindrical body 16 is diametrically or laterallyextended or enlarged into intimate tight fitting contact with the wallof the bore 12. Any suitable means may be provided for effecting thisdistention of the body as, for example, by applying an increasedinternal pressure using a non-conductive fluid to the interior of thebody as through a conduit 30 which may be provided, or by increasing thepressure upon the exterior of the body by increasing the pressure towhich the fluid in the bore is subjected to thus flatten anddiametrically distend the body into the desired tight fitting engagementwith the wall of the bore.

In any event, the body may be readily inserted into or removed from awell bore when the body is in its normal collapsed or non-distendedposition and when inserted and properly placed may be readily expandedinto a tight fitting engagement with the wall of the bore for anchoringthe body in place. When so positioned, the body is in direct heatexchange relation with the geological formation 10. With the body inplace, as shown in FIG. 11, electric current from any suitable source 25is supplied to the conductors 26 and 28 and thence to the electrodes 22and 24. The electric current flows along uncontrolled paths between theends of the electrodes through the adjacent portion of the formation asindicated by the lines of flow 32 and 34. It will, of course, beapparent that, depending upon the position of the electrodes and thenumber of the same, the lines or paths of flow of the current will varyand the intensity of the heating effect may be controlled or adjusted.

The current flowing between the electorodes may be from a source 25 suchas to provide dielectric heating or resistance heating of the formationby the passage of the current therethrough or to effect heating byestablishing in arc between the electrods and the like. As in theembodiments described hereinafter, the current may be supplied to theelectrodes and, consequently, the heat emitted from the same may begiven a pulsating effect by properly timing the electrical impulsesintroduced to the electrodes such as by using a switching means 27 tothe conductors 26 and 28. With such an arrangement the device may beemployed solely for the purpose of heating constitutes a means forinitiating an energy carrying wave which will tend to vibrate and/orotherwise treat the formation, or may be used to apply heat energy intoor remove the same from an energy carrying wave introduced into theformation from other sources, in the manner to be now set forth.

Assume that a fluid pressure neduyn sycg as iuk ir water is beingsupplied under pressure to the well bore 12 for pressurizing or waterdriving the formation to aid in secondary oil recovery, this being awell known practice in the art. This fluid, as above mentioned, hasdistended the body 16 to secure the same at the desired location in thewell bore and formation and also to establish a good heat exchangerelation therewith. This drive fluid may have an energy carrying waveproduced therein whereby to produce pulsating pressures which areapplied to the formation. The production of these energy waves and theirmodes of application to the formation may be any of the types disclosed,set forth, and

claimed in my prior applications Ser. No. 241,647, now

U.S. Pat. No. 2,796,129 and Ser. No. 296,038, now U.S. Pat. Nos.2,866,509, of which Ser. No. 665,995, now U.S. Pat. No. 3,302,720, was acontinuation-inpart; Ser. No. 431,246, now U.S. Pat. No. 3,133,591, ofwhich Ser. No. 376,285, filed Ap. 28. 1964. now U.S. Pat. Nos.3,247,901, and Serial No. 501,906, filed Oct. 22, 1965, now U.S. Pat.No. 3,339,635, are divisions thereof; Ser. No. 434,299, now U.S. Pat.No. 3,042,115, of which Ser. No. 206,207, filed June 29, 1962, now U.S.Pat. No. 3,438,352, is a division thereof.

However, when electric energy is periodically or intermittently appliedto the device 14 herein, it is preferred to apply the electric energy atthe same or at a multiple of the frequency of the pulsations of thedrive fluid or at the phase angle thereof and to so time the electricalimpulses relative to the fluid pressure pulsations that the electricalimpulses and, therefore, the resultant heat impulses will be applied tothe fluid medium at the same phase angle of the energy wave in themedium.

It is now well known that when heat is applied to a medium during thecompression phase of an energy wave therein the energy of the heat isadded to and increases that of the energy wave results in acorresponding decrease in the wave energy. Thus, this embodiment of theinvention may be utilized to add energy to or subtract it from an energywave which is treating a formation.

In some instances, the apparatus may be used to initiate and maintain anenergy wave in the fluid drive medium. When heat is periodicallygenerated and applied to the fluid, the adjacent layers of molecules ofthe fluid are expanded by the heat impulses and move away from theheater. Between successive heat impulses, cooler molecules move betweenthe heated and expanded molecules and the heater body 16. In thismanner, there is produced a continuing series or layers of heated,expanded molecules separated by cooler, contracted molecules. Theselayers constitute compression and rearefaction phases of an energy wave,just as though they were produced by reciprocation of a piston or thevibrating of a wire in the medium.

This embodiment of the invention, therefore, presents a means which iscompact and portable, easily applied to, removed from or adjustablypositioned in a formation and which facilitates the conversion of electrical energy into heat and/or wave energy and its application to afluid drive medium and to a formation for treating the latter.

EMBODIMENT OF FIGURE 2 The principles of the invention as disclosed inconnection with FIGURE 1 are also applicable to the embodiment of FIGURE2. As in the preceding embodiment, the heat exchanger 50 is illustratedas positioned in the well bore 12 of the formation and distended intosecure seating and sealing engagement therein as in the precedingembodiment. The exchanger 50 is also of a dielectric, yieldablyexpansible material, including a cylindrical body or body portion 52together with a bottom wall 54. In place of the previously described topwall, the body is closed by a diaphragm or other flexible top wall 56.The exchanger 50 is distended similarly to the device in FIGURE 1 usingconduit A or as otherwose described.

An electrode 58 similar to the electrode 24 of FIGURE 1 is applied nearthe lower portion of the wall 52 of the heater body and is connectedwith an electric conductor 60 for supplying current to the same.However, in lieu ofa single pair of electrodes 22 of FIGURE 1, there isprovided a plurality of sets of oppositely disposed electrodes 62, 64and 66 having their terminal portions exposed through the sides of thebody. It will be understood that any desired number of these electrodesmay be provided, three having been illustrated for the sake ofsimplicity in setting forth the principles of this form of theinvention. Secured to the central portion of the diaphragm 56 is asupporting rod 68 to which is connected an electric conductor 70. Thelower end of the rod 68 is journaled in a suitable guide bearing 72carried by expansible supporting rods 74 upon the interior of the heaterbody. Intermediate its ends the rod 68 is provided with a transverse bar76 constituting a reciprocable switch blade.

The arrangement is such that when the bar or switch blade 76 is inregistration with one of the sets of oppositely disposed alignedcontacts 62, 64 or 66, an electrical circuit will be established betweenthe conductor 70, the rod 68, the blade 76, the selected contact, withthe electrode 58 and the conductor 60. When the con tact is soestablished, lines of flow for the current extend through the formationbetween the upper selected and activated electrodes 62, 64 or 66 and thelower electrode 58, as shown in the flow lines 78 and 80. These flowlines are identical in the functioning of each a regards the flow lines32, 34 of the embodiment previously described. However, in this form ofthe invention, there is a further different joint action of theelectrodes and their resulting flow lines. By varying the pressure towhich the diaphragm 56 is subjected, the position of the switch bar 76can be vertically adjusted to cause the same to selectively registerwith the pairs of electrodes 62, 64 or 66. Thus, the length of the flowlines 78 and 80 can be adjusted, thereby varying the intensity of theresultant heating action.

Still further, however, it is possible to maintain a selected meanpressure upon the fluid to cause the blade 76 to operatively registerwith a selected set of electrodes 62, 64 or 66 and then to impart aslight pulsation, relative to the selected mean pressure, to the fluidin contact with the diaphragm and thus cause a slight pulsing of thelatter. This slight pulsation will be sufficient to displace the switchblade 76 by or through a slight vertical movement. This movement may besuch as will be sufficient to intermittently make and break the circuitwith respect to the adjacent seleced upper pair of electrodes, but willbe insufficient to cause the blade 76 to mobve into operative contactwith any but the selected set of electrodes. Thus, an intermittentapplication of electric current between the electrodes is possible,thereby producing a pulsating emission of heat from the device into theformation for the various purposes and. functions set forth inconnection with the preceding and previously described embodiments.

Still further, however, it is possible by increasing the amplitude ofvertical vibration of the diaphragm 56 to cause the switch blade 76 toestablish contact intermittently with more than one selected pair ofelectrodes. Thus, if the blade is moved sufficiently, it willintermittently establish a circuit with the pair of electrodes 62 andthe pair of electrodes 64, 0 between the pair of electrodes 64 and thepair of electrodes 66, it being evident that a pulsating application ofheat is thereby possible, and that this application is of varyingintensity since it will pass through flow paths of different lengths.Still further, the switch blade 76 may be so moved as to contact all ofthe electrodes in succession, thus producing to the maximum thesequential varying of the flow paths.

In the two forms disclosed in FIGURES l and 2, it will therefore beapparent that considerable variation in the characteristics of the heatinput into a formation may be effected, and that variations in thepressure of the fluid to which the formation is subjected are utilizedto control the variations and fluctuations in the heat input.

It is, of course, intended that, as in the embodiment of FIGURE 1, theheat energy imparted into the fluid medium by this embodiment may beused to initiate an energy transmitting wave in a propagating medium, ormay function to modify or maintain an energy wave produced by othersources.

Thus, fracturing, acidizing, disintegrating, secondary recovery and/orother desirable results of treating a formation may be effected in apermeable formation by this arrangement for controllably altering thecharacteristics of or initiating an energy wave.

EMBODIMENT OF FIRE 3 FIGURES 3, 4 and 5 disclose embodiments somewhatsimilar in principle to those of FIGURES 1 and 2. Thus, in each ofFIGURES 3, 4 and 5 there is disclosed a geological formation 100 whichmay comprise an oil bearing formation having a well bore 102 therein.Secured in any desired manner in the sides of the well bore are two ormore vertically spaced sets of aligned and oppositely disposedelectrodes 104 and 106 for the upper set and 108 and l for the lowerset. For example, the electrodes are driven into the formation bymechanical wedges, explosive driving means such as used in driving studsin concrete, or hydraulic actuated mechanisms. Two pair of insulatedelectric conductors 111, 112 and 113, 114 supplies current to theseelectrodes.

In the arrangement of FIGURE 3, the upper set of electrodes 104, 106 arerelatively closely positioned with respect to the lower set 108, 110.The conductor 111 supplies current to the electrode 104, the conductor112 suppfies current to the electrode 108, conductor 113 suppliescurrent to the electrode 106 while the other conductor 114 suppliescurrent to the electrode 110. Suitably vertically supported as by a wireline or tubing means within the well bore and centralized by well knownmeans, not shown, adjacent the electrodes and mounted for verticalreciprocation with respect thereto is an upper rod 116 which is alignedwith a lower rod 118, the two rods being connected to opposite sides ofa vertically reciprocable expansible chamber 120 having a movablediaphragm 122 forming one wall of the same. At its lower end the rod 118is provided with a transversely disposed switch bar or blade 124 whichupon its opposite extremities is provided with vertically elongatedswitch members 126 and 128.

The arrangement is such that as the assembly consisting of the rods 116and 118, the expansible chamber 120 and the switch bar 124 isreciprocated vertically, as shown by the arrows, the switch contactmembers 126, 128 are moved vertically from the full lines to the dottedlines. This vertical reciprocation causes an arc to pass from thecontact members 126, 128 to the adjacent electrodes 108, 110 or 104,106, or produces a dielectric or resistance heating effect. Thus, anelectric heating arc is produced which serves to emit heat from thedevice into the adjacent formation. As in the preceding embodiments, thepulsations of the heat emission may be so timed as to produce an energybearing wave or apply energy into an energy bearing wave or to abstractenergy therefrom.

In this form of the invention it is further contemplated that variationsin the pressure of the fluid medium within the well bore, applied to thesensitive expansion chamber device 120, will cause the diaphragm 122thereof to flex between its full and dotted line positions. Thesepulsations will thus also effect a vertical displacement of the switchbar 124. By means of the expansible chamber device, the bar may bepositioned adjacent the lower electrodes, as shown in full lines in FIRE3, or alternatively may be positioned adjacent the upper electrodes asshown in dotted lines therein. Thus, the pressure pulsations may berelied upon as a means for positioning the switch bar to selectivelyactivate different sets of electrodes.

Still further, the pressure variations may be such as to strike out orbreak the are between the contacts 126, 128 and 104, 106 and/or 108,110.

It is, of course, apparent that the pulsations applied by the member 120may be combined with the vertical reciprocation of the members 116, 118to thus more widely vary the types of heating effects and pulsationsproduced.

It is further contemplated that the electrodes 108 and may be suppliedwith a different intensity of current from the electrodes 104 and 1%whereby when the contact members 126 and 128 are shifted vertically bythe action of fluid pulsations upon the actuator 120, the differentelectric circuits will produce heating effects of greatly differentintensities and heat content. These heat inputs can be timed to theenergy wave in the fluid medium to selectively weaken or strengthen theenergy thereof or to initiate and maintain an energy bearing wave.

Further, by giving the bar 124 a sfficiently great vertical movement,the contacts 126 and 128 will be caused to operatively engage both setsof electrodes thereby applying additional electrical and heat energy tothe wave energy.

Thu, fracturing, acidizing, secondary recovery, disintegrating and/orother desirable results of treating a formation may e effected in apermeable formation by this arrangement for controllably altering thecharacteristics of or initiating an energy wave.

Still further, the apparatus of FIGURE 3, as is also the case with theother modifications disclosed herein, may be used solely to initiateand/or maintain or modify an energy wave, while the conduit 116 may beoperatively connected to a pilot source of hydraulic and/or electricalpower in order to so control the paths of current travel at theelectrodes that the characteristics and frequencies of energy waves maybe variably controlled.

EEMBODIMENTS OF FIGURES 4 AND 5 The embodiment of FIGURES 4 and 5differs from that of FIGURE 3 in that the conductors 112, 114 arerespectively connected to the electrodes 104, 108 and 106, 110, andthese latter sets of electrodes are more widely vertically spaced. Also,a different type and actuation of the switch member is provided. In thisembodiment, the latter consists of a bar 150, similar to the bar 118,having a transverse switch bar 152 carried thereby which, at its outerends, has the switch contact plates 154 and 156. These plates registerwith the electrodes 108 and 110. Near the upper end of the rod 150 thereis also provided a second transverse switch bar 158 having at its outerend the switch contact plates 160, 162 respectively registering with theelectrodes 104, 106.

As shown in FIGURE 5, there is provided for each of the upper and lowersets of electrodes previously mentioned corresponding angularly orcircumferentially spaced second sets of electrodes, the upper pair ofthese being shown at 164 and 166, while the lower set, being similar,has not been illustrated. The electrodes are driven into the formationas previously described. The second set of upper and lower electrodes isplaced at any desired angular relation with respect to the first set ofthe upper and lower electrodes for sequential actuation by the members154, 156 and 160, 162 in a manner and for a purpose which will besubsequently set forth.

Supported by a cable 168 or any other suitable support means in the wellbore is an electric motor 170 or other suitable source or power having adriving shaft 172. This shaft terminates in or carries mounted thereon acollar of sleeve 174 terminating in a diametrically reduced stem-likeextension splined at 176 and carried by and surrounding the same is ahollow solenoid or electromagnet 178 which may be supplied by currentfrom any suitable source. The splined exremity 1 76 slidably receivesthereon an internally splined cylinder 180 fixedly secured to the upperend of the rod 150 and supporting the later, this cylinder beingslidable within the solenoid and constituting an armature for the same.

Motor 170 and related connected rod 150, and solenoid 178 are supportedand centralized in the well by well known means, not shown.

When the solenoid 178 is energized, the plunger 180 is drawn upwardlyinto the same thereby lifting the rod 150 and the switch bars 152, 158carried thereby. When the solenoid is de-energized, these members arecorfespondingly lowered under the influence of gravity and/or by springor any other suitable means, if desired.

By means of the electric motor 170, rotation, as indicated by the arrow182, is imparted to the rod 150 and to the switch bars. During thisrotation, the upper switch blade members 160, 162 and the lower set 154,156 first register with the upper pair of electrodes 104, 106 and thelower pair 108, 110 to establish an arc of an electric or dielectriccircuit for heating purposes. Upon further rotation through apredetermined angular interval, the switch contact members, as seen inFIGURE 5, register with the second sets of contacts 164 and 166 of theupper and lower sets to produce a second flow of current. It iscontemplated that the angular interval between the electrodes 104, 164and 106 and 106, 166 shall be such as to cause a predetermined timingbetween the two flows of current. This timing is such that apredetermined relation will be imparted to the two waves initiated bythe fluid current at the two sets of contacts. For example, a 45 angulardisplacement will serve to augment the energy content 'of the waveproduced by the pulsating heat emissions of the device, as set forth indetail in my heretofore mentioned copending applications.

It will be seen that during this continuous rotation of the switch bars152 and 158, there may also be applied either at irregular intervals orperiodically a vertical reciprocation of the same through the solenoid.This movement will tend to draw out or prolong and/or cut off the flowof current through the electrodes and the adjacent switch blade contactmembers.

7 The form of the invention of FIGURES 4 and 5 therefore provides stillfurther means and processes for initiating or for varying the type andcharacteristics of the pulsating heat impulses introduced into aformation or the fluid mediums contacting the same, or varying thecaharacteristics of an emergu wave in a wave conducting medium.

Thus, fracturing, acidizing, disintegrating, secondary recovery and/orother desirable results of treating a formation may be effected in apermeable formation by this arrangement for controllably altering thecharacteristics of or initiating an energy wave.

What is claimed as new i as follows:

1. A process of electrically producing pulsating energy of varyingintensities and frequencies in an energy wave transmitting medium by theuse of electrodes, comprising the steps of: exposing at least one of theelectrodes in operative relation to another of said electrodes by thepressure of a fluid medium; varying the mean pressure of said fluidmedium to conrollably expose one of the electrodes relative to theenergy wave transmitting medium in operative relation to a selected oneof the other of the electrodes; and supplying electrical energy to saidcontrollably exposed and selected electrodes producing an arctherebetween emitting said pulsating energy through the energy wavetransmitting medium.

2. The process of claim 1 including the step of: applying pulsations orenergy waves to the fluid medium and thereby causing arcing of saidcontrollably exposed electrode to intermittently vary into and out ofoperative relation with the selected electrode.

3. The process of claim 1 including the step of: intermittently varyingsaid mean pressure to intermittently place said controllably exposedelectrodes into operative relation with each of said other electrodesindividually.

4, The process of claim 1 including the steps of: intermittently varyingsaid mean perssure to intermittently place the controllably exposedelectodes into operative relation with each of said other electrodesindividually; and applying pulsations or energy waves to the fluidmedium and causing thereby intermittent arcing of the controllablyexposed electrodes into and out of operative relation with each of saidother electrodes.

5. The process of claim 1 wherein said energy wave transmitting mediumis an earth formation.

6. The process of claim 1 wherein said energy wave transmitting mediumis an oil or gas bearing formation.

7. The process of claim 1 wherein said energy wave transmitting mediumproduces fluids from a permeable formation.

8, The process of claim 1 wherein said energy wave transmitting mediumis a liquid through which energy waves are applied to an earthformation.

9. Apparatus for electrically producing pulsating energy of varyingintensities and frequencies in an energy wave transmitting medium,comprising a plurality of electrodes disposed in heat exchange relationto said energy wave transmitting medium, pressure operated means forcyclic movement thereof between operative positions relative to one ofsaid electrodes as to other of the electrodes, a source of electricalenergy, and means supplying said electrical energy to the elec trodesfor establishing arcing therebetween only in said operative positions ofsaid electrodes to intermittently emit pulses of energy through theenergy wave transmitting medium.

10. The combination of claim wherein said pressure operative meansimparts reciprocation to said arcing means.

11. The combination of claim 10 and wherein said energy wavetransmitting medium is an earth formation.

12. The combination of claim 11 wherein said earth formation includesoil or gas bearing strata.

13. The combination of claim 11 wherein said earth formation isfractured or disintegrated by variably intensifying said energy waves.

14. The combination of claim 10 and wherein said energy wavetransmitting medium is a fluid entrained within an earth formation.

15. The combination of claim 14 wherein said fluid is water in energywave applying relationship to said earth formation.

16. The combination of claim 14 wherein said earth formation ispermeable through which the fluid is displaced by afluid medium.

17. The combination of claim 16 wherein said fluid medium includes aformation acidizing agent.

18. The combination of claim 17 wherein sad fluid is a treating mediumfor said earth formation.

19. The combination of claim 18 wherein said treating medium includes anacidizing agent.

20. The process of generating pulsating energy waves in a heat or energywave transmitting fluid medium in energy wave applying relationship toan earth formation from a source of electrical current throughelectrodes comprising the steps of: positioning the electrodes in heator energy wave relation to said fluid medium; conducting current fromsaid source to the electrodes; periodically varying the intensity ofsaid current to produce pulses of heat energy or energy waves in saidfluid medium; and transmitting said heat energy pulses or energy wavesthrough said fluid medium to establish an energy wave to said formationincluding the further step of moving the current varying intensifieralong a predetermined path while in heat or energy wave relation to saidfluid medium.

21. The process of claim 20 wherein said fluid medium is water in heator energy wave applying relation ship to said formation.

22. The process of claim 20 wherein said formation is an oil or gasbearing formation. 7

23. The process of claim 20 wherein said fluid medium is a drive fluidfor producing fluids from said earth formation.

24. The process of claim 23 wherein said drive fluid contains anacidizing agent fo acidizing of said earth formation.

25. The process 0 claim 20 including positioning in heat or energy waverelation to said fluid medium electrodes other than said positionedelectrodes and intermittently conducting current to said otherelectrodes in phase angle relationship to the current being conducted tosaid positioned electrodes to thereby controllably intensify, vary ormodify the characteristics of the energy wave being generated in saidfluid medium.

26. The process of claim 25 wherein said fluid medium is water in heator energy wave applying relationship to said formation.

27. The process of claim 25 wherein said earth formation is fractured ordisintegrated by said controllable intensifying, varying or modifying ofsaid energy wave.

2 8. The process of claim 25 wherein said formation is an oil or gasbearing formation.

29. The processof claim 28 wherein said oil or gas bearing formation isfra ctured or disintegrated by said controllable intensifying, varyingor modifying of said energy wave.

30. The process of claim 25 wherein said fluid medium is a treatingfluid containing an acidizing agent for acidizing said earth formation.

31. The process of claim 30 wherein the energy wave applied to saidtreating fluid is controllably intensified, varied or modified tofracture or disintegrate said earth formation.

32. A process for creating the compressions and rarefactions of aperiodic energy wave within an energy or heat transmitting liquid mediumcontained within an earth formation by electrical current, comprisingpositioning spaced electrodes attached to a source of electrical currentin heat transmitting relation to said liquid medium; dischargingelectrical current from said source in a continuing intermittentapplication to said electodes positioned to said liquid medium toproduce successive flows of electrical current through said liquidmedium; producing series of compressional heated and expanded impulsesof molecular activity alternated with contracted rarfactions of coolermolecular movement within said liquid medium by continuing intermittentdischarging of said electrical current through said liquid medium fromsaid electrodes to initiate and maintain an energy wave in said liquidmedium; including intermittently discharging said electrical currentfrom electrodes other than said spaced electrodes but adjacent theretoin said liquid meeium, in phase angle relationship to said dischargesfrom said spaced electrodes to thereby controllably intensify, vary ormofify the characteristics of energy waves being produced in said liquidmedium.

33. The process of claim 32 wherein said liquid medium in water in heator energy wave applying relationship to said earth formation.

34 The process of claim 32 wherein said liquid medium is a drive fluidfor producing fluids from said earth formation.

35. The process of claim 32 wherein said liquid medium is a treatingfluid containing an acidizing agent for acidizing said earth formation.

36. The process of claim 32 wherein said earth formation is fractured odisintegrated by said controllable intensifying, varying or modifying ofsaid energy wave.

37 The process of claim 32 wherein said liquid medium is the fluids ofan oil or gas bearing formation.

38. The process of claim 37 wherein said oil or gas bearing formation isfractured or disintegrated by said contrllable intensifying, varying ormodifying of said energy wave.

39. A process for creating the compressions and rarefactions of aperiodic energy wave within an energy or heat transmitting liquid mediumcontained within an earth formation by electrical current, comprisingpositioning spaced electrodes attached to a source of electrical currentin heat transmitting relation to said liquid medium, dischargingelectrical current from said source in a continuing intermittentapplication to said electrodes positioned to said liquid medium toproduce successive flows of electrical current through .said liquidmedium; producing series of compressional heated and expanded impulsesof molecular activity alternated with contracted rarefactions of coolermolecular movement within said liquid medium by continuing intermittentdischarging of said electrical current trough said liquid medium fromsaid electrodes to initiate and maintain an energy wave in said liquidmeeium; including the stp of moving the electrical cur- I rentdischarger along a predetermined path in relationship to said earthformation.

40. The process of claim 39 wherein said liquid medium is water in heator energy wave applying relationship to said earth formation.

41. The process of claim 39 wherein said liquid medium is the fluids ofan oil or gas bearing formation.

42. The process of claim 39 wherein said energy wave is sufficientlyintensified to fracture or disintegrate said earth formation.

43. The process of claim 39 wherein said liquid medium is a'treatingfluid containing an acidizing agent for acidizing said earth formation.

44. The process of claim 43 wherein the energy wave applied to saidtreating fluid is sufficiently intensified to fracture or disintegratesaid earth formation.

45 The process of electrically producing pulsating heating impulses orenergy waves of a relatively low frequency in a heat or energy wavetransmitting medium from a source of electrical current which is pulsingat a relatively higher frequency comprising positioning a pair ofelectrodes in heat transmitting relation to said heat or energy wavetransmitting medium; applying a source of electrical urrent having arelatively high frequency but relatively low intensity of pulsation tosaid electrodes to produce thereby an electric arc and resulting heat,both of which are pulsing at a relatively high frequency and with arelatively low intensity; intermittently varying the flow of theelectrical current to thereby produce a relatively low frequency buthigh intensity pulsations in the electrical current, producing therebyan arc and heating effect between said electrodes of a relatively lowfrequency but relatively high intensity of pulsation or energy wave;including positioning in heat or energy wave relation to said heat orenergy wave transmitting medium electrodes other than said pair ofpositionined electrodes and intermittently applying electrical currentto said other electrodes in phase angle relationship to therebycontrollably intensify, vary or modify the characteristics of said heatimpulses or energy waves of relatively low frequency but relatively highintensity being produced in said medium. 1

. The process of claim 45 wherein said heat or energy wave transmittingmedium is an earth forma tion.

47. The process of claim 46 wherein said heat impulse of energy wave iscontrollably intensified, varied or modified to fracture or disintegratesaid earth formation.

48. The process of claim 45 wherein said heat or energy wavetransmitting medium is fluids contained in an earth formation.

49. The process of claim 48 wherein said. fluid medium is water.

50. The process of claim 48 wherein said fluid medium is a treatingfluid containing an acidizing agent for acidizing said earth formation.

1. A process of electrically producing pulsating energy of varyingintensities and frequencies in an energy wave transmitting medium by theuse of electrodes, comprising the steps of: exposing at least one of theelectrodes in operative relation to another of said electrodes by thepressure of a fluid medium; varying the mean pressure of said fluidmedium to conrollably expose one of the electrodes relative to theenergy wave transmitting medium in operative relation to a selected oneof the other of the electrodes; and supplying electrical energy to saidcontrollably exposed and selected electrodes producing an arctherebetween emitting said pulsating energy through the energy wavetransmitting medium.
 2. The process of claim 1 including the step of:applying pulsations or energy waves to the fluid medium and therebycausing arcing of said controllably exposed electrode to intermittentlyvary into and out of operative relation with the selected electrode. 3.The process of claim 1 including the step of: intermittently varyingsaid mean pressure to intermittently place said controllably exposedelectrodes into operative relation with each of said other electrodesindividually. 4, The process of claim 1 including the steps of:intermittently varying said mean perssure to intermittently place thecontrollably exposed electodes into operative relation with each of saidother electrodes individually; and applying pulsations or energy wavesto the fluid medium and causing thereby intermittent arcing of thecontrollably exposed electrodes into and out of operative relation witheach of said other electrodes.
 5. The process of claim 1 wherein saidenergy wave transmitting medium is an earth formation.
 6. The process ofclaim 1 wherein said energy wave transmitting medium is an oil or gasbearing formation.
 7. The process of claim 1 wherein said energy wavetransmitting medium produces fluids from a permeable formation. 8, Theprocess of claim 1 wherein said energy wave transmitting medium is aliquid through which energy waves are applied to an earth formation. 9.Apparatus for electrically producing pulsating energy of varyingintensities and frequencies in an energy wave transmitting medium,comprising a plurality of electrodes disposed in heat exchange relationto said energy wave transmitting medium, pressure operated means forcyclic movement thereof between operative positions relative to one ofsaid electrodes as to other of the electrodes, a source of electricalenergy, and means supplying said electrical energy to the electrodes forestablishing arcing therebetween only in said operative positions ofsaid electrodes to intermittently emit pulses of energy through theenergy wave transmitting medium.
 10. The combination of claim 10 whereinsaid pressure operative means imparts reciprocation to said arcingmeans.
 11. The combination of claim 10 and wherein said energy wavetransmitting medium is an earth formation.
 12. The combination of claim11 wherein said earth formation includes oil or gas bearing strata. 13.The combination of claim 11 wherein said earth formation is fractured ordisintegrated by variably intensifying said energy waves.
 14. Thecombination of claim 10 and wherein said energy wave transmitting mediumis a fluid entrained within an eaRth formation.
 15. The combination ofclaim 14 wherein said fluid is water in energy wave applyingrelationship to said earth formation.
 16. The combination of claim 14wherein said earth rormation is permeable through which the fluid isdisplaced by a fluid medium.
 17. The combination of claim 16 whereinsaid fluid medium includes a formation acidizing agent.
 18. Thecombination of claim 17 wherein sad fluid is a treating medium for saidearth formation.
 19. The combination of claim 18 wherein said treatingmedium includes an acidizing agent.
 20. The process of generatingpulsating energy waves in a heat or energy wave transmitting fluidmedium in energy wave applying relationship to an earth formation from asource of electrical current through electrodes comprising the steps of:positioning the electrodes in heat or energy wave relation to said fluidmedium; conducting current from said source to the electrodes;periodically varying the intensity of said current to produce pulses ofheat energy or energy waves in said fluid medium; and transmitting saidheat energy pulses or energy waves through said fluid medium toestablish an energy wave to said formation ; including the further stepof moving the current varying intensifier along a predetermined pathwhile in heat or energy wave relation to said fluid medium.
 21. Theprocess of claim 20 wherein said fluid medium is water in heat or energywave applying relationship to said formation.
 22. The process of claim20 wherein said formation is an oil or gas bearing formation.
 23. Theprocess of claim 20 wherein said fluid medium is a drive fluid forproducing fluids from said earth formation.
 24. The process of claim 23wherein said drive fluid contains an acidizing agent fo acidizing ofsaid earth formation.
 25. The process o claim 20 including positioningin heat or energy wave relation to said fluid medium electrodes otherthan said positioned electrodes and intermittently conducting current tosaid other electrodes in phase angle relationship to the current beingconducted to said positioned electrodes to thereby controllablyintensify, vary or modify the characteristics of the energy wave beinggenerated in said fluid medium.
 26. The process of claim 25 wherein saidfluid medium is water in heat or energy wave applying relationship tosaid formation.
 27. The process of claim 25 wherein said earth formationis fractured or disintegrated by said controllable intensifying, varyingor modifying of said energy wave.
 28. The process of claim 25 whereinsaid formation is an oil or gas bearing formation.
 29. The process ofclaim 28 wherein said oil or gas bearing formation is fra ctured ordisintegrated by said controllable intensifying, varying or modifying ofsaid energy wave.
 30. The process of claim 25 wherein said fluid mediumis a treating fluid containing an acidizing agent for acidizing saidearth formation.
 31. The process of claim 30 wherein the energy waveapplied to said treating fluid is controllably intensified, varied ormodified to fracture or disintegrate said earth formation.
 32. A processfor creating the compressions and rarefactions of a periodic energy wavewithin an energy or heat transmitting liquid medium contained within anearth formation by electrical current, comprising positioning spacedelectrodes attached to a source of electrical current in heattransmitting relation to said liquid medium; discharging electricalcurrent from said source in a continuing intermittent application tosaid electodes positioned to said liquid medium to produce successiveflows of electrical current through said liquid medium; producing seriesof compressional heated and expanded impulses of molecular activityalternated with contracted rarfactions of cooler molecular movementwithin said liquid medium by continuing intermittent discharging of saidelectrical current through said liquid medium from said electrodes toinitiate and maintain an energy wave in said liquiD medium; includingintermittently discharging said electrical current from electrodes otherthan said spaced electrodes but adjacent thereto in said liquid meeium,in phase angle relationship to said discharges from said spacedelectrodes to thereby controllably intensify, vary or mofify thecharacteristics of energy waves being produced in said liquid medium.33. The process of claim 32 wherein said liquid medium in water in heator energy wave applying relationship to said earth formation. 34 Theprocess of claim 32 wherein said liquid medium is a drive fluid forproducing fluids from said earth formation.
 35. The process of claim 32wherein said liquid medium is a treating fluid containing an acidizingagent for acidizing said earth formation.
 36. The process of claim 32wherein said earth formation is fractured o disintegrated by saidcontrollable intensifying, varying or modifying of said energy wave. 37The process of claim 32 wherein said liquid medium is the fluids of anoil or gas bearing formation.
 38. The process of claim 37 wherein saidoil or gas bearing formation is fractured or disintegrated by saidcontrllable intensifying, varying or modifying of said energy wave. 39.A process for creating the compressions and rarefactions of a periodicenergy wave within an energy or heat transmitting liquid mediumcontained within an earth formation by electrical current, comprisingpositioning spaced electrodes attached to a source of electrical currentin heat transmitting relation to said liquid medium, dischargingelectrical current from said source in a continuing intermittentapplication to said electrodes positioned to said liquid medium toproduce successive flows of electrical current through said liquidmedium; producing series of compressional heated and expanded impulsesof molecular activity alternated with contracted rarefactions of coolermolecular movement within said liquid medium by continuing intermittentdischarging of said electrical current trough said liquid medium fromsaid electrodes to initiate and maintain an energy wave in said liquidmeeium; including the stp of moving the electrical current dischargeralong a predetermined path in relationship to said earth formation. 40.The process of claim 39 wherein said liquid medium is water in heat orenergy wave applying relationship to said earth formation.
 41. Theprocess of claim 39 wherein said liquid medium is the fluids of an oilor gas bearing formation.
 42. The process of claim 39 wherein saidenergy wave is sufficiently intensified to fracture or disintegrate saidearth formation.
 43. The process of claim 39 wherein said liquid mediumis a treating fluid containing an acidizing agent for acidizing saidearth formation.
 44. The process of claim 43 wherein the energy waveapplied to said treating fluid is sufficiently intensified to fractureor disintegrate said earth formation.
 45. The process of electricallyproducing pulsating heating impulses or energy waves of a relatively lowfrequency in a heat or energy wave transmitting medium from a source ofelectrical current which is pulsing at a relatively higher frequencycomprising positioning a pair of electrodes in heat transmittingrelation to said heat or energy wave transmitting medium; applying asource of electrical urrent having a relatively high frequency butrelatively low intensity of pulsation to said electrodes to producethereby an electric arc and resulting heat, both of which are pulsing ata relatively high frequency and with a relatively low intensity;intermittently varying the flow of the electrical current to therebyproduce a relatively low frequency but high intensity pulsations in theelectrical current, producing thereby an arc and heating effect betweensaid electrodes of a relatively low frequency but relatively highintensity of pulsation or energy wave; including positioning in heat orenergy wave relation to said heat or energy wave transmitting mediumelectrodes other Than said pair of positionined electrodes andintermittently applying electrical current to said other electrodes inphase angle relationship to thereby controllably intensify, vary ormodify the characteristics of said heat impulses or energy waves ofrelatively low frequency but relatively high intensity being produced insaid medium.
 46. The process of claim 45 wherein said heat or energywave transmitting medium is an earth formation.
 47. The process of claim46 wherein said heat impulse of energy wave is controllably intensified,varied or modified to fracture or disintegrate said earth formation. 48.The process of claim 45 wherein said heat or energy wave transmittingmedium is fluids contained in an earth formation.
 49. The process ofclaim 48 wherein said fluid medium is water.
 50. The process of claim 48wherein said fluid medium is a treating fluid containing an acidizingagent for acidizing said earth formation.